Home Depot vs Lowe's 2026: Pricing & Service
Home Depot Inc.
Leading home improvement retailer with 2,314 US stores and $152B annual revenue.
Professional contractors, frequent DIYers, price-conscious bulk buyers, and customers prioritizing convenience and Pro discounts.
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Second-largest home improvement retailer with 2,119 stores and $86.2B annual revenue.
Homeowners preferring organized shopping environments, appliance buyers, customers valuing extended returns, and casual DIYers seeking competitive pricing.
Quick Answer
AI SummaryHome Depot leads in store count (2,300+ locations) and annual revenue ($152B) compared to Lowe's (2,200+ locations, $86B revenue), but Lowe's offers competitive pricing and superior in-store navigation, making both viable choices depending on location and shopping preferences.
Read full verdictChoose Home Depot if you prioritize brand size, competitive contractor pricing, extensive Pro discounts, and wider same-day delivery coverage. Choose Lowe's if you prefer spacious store layouts, longer return windows (120 days), and value a more compact shopping experience with competitive general pricing.
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Choose Home Depot Inc. if
Best pickProfessional contractors, frequent DIYers, price-conscious bulk buyers, and customers prioritizing convenience and Pro discounts.
Choose Lowe's Companies, Inc. if
Homeowners preferring organized shopping environments, appliance buyers, customers valuing extended returns, and casual DIYers seeking competitive pricing.
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Annual Revenue (2024):✓ Home Depot Inc. wins($152.0 billion vs $86.0 billion)
- Store Count (US):2,314 locations vs 2,273 locations
- Average Store Size:✓ Lowe's Companies, Inc. wins(112,000 sq ft vs 104,000 sq ft)
Key Facts & Figures
10 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Home Depot Inc. | Lowe's Companies, Inc. | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Revenue (Fiscal 2024)(USD Billions) | $152.0 billion | $86.0 billion | |
| US Store Locations(stores) | 2,314 | 2,273 | |
| Average Store Size(sq ft) | 104,000 | 112,000 | |
| Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI 2024)(points (0-100)) | 76 | 75 | |
| Pro/Contractor Membership Annual Fee(USD) | $9.98 | $49.00 | |
| Same-Day Delivery Coverage(% of U.S. population) | 90%+ | 85%+ | |
| Standard Return Policy Window(days) | 90 days | 120 days | |
| Contractor Discount Range(% off) | 5-10% | 2-5% | |
| FY2025 Total Sales Revenue(USD Billions) | $86.3 | $86.3 | |
| FY2026 Sales Growth Guidance(%) | 7-9% | 7-9% |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- $152.0 billion(winner)Annual Revenue (2024)$86.0 billion
- 2,314 locationsStore Count (US)2,273 locations
- 104,000 sq ftAverage Store Size112,000 sq ft(winner)
- 76/100(winner)Customer Satisfaction Score (2024 ACSI)75/100
- $9.98/year (Home Depot Pro)(winner)Pro Membership Annual Fee$49/year (Lowe's Pro)
- 90%+ of US(winner)Online Same-Day Delivery Coverage85%+ of US
- 90 daysReturn Policy Window120 days(winner)
- Annual Revenue (2024)
Home Depot Inc.
$152.0 billion(winner)
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
$86.0 billion
- Store Count (US)
Home Depot Inc.
2,314 locations
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
2,273 locations
- Average Store Size
Home Depot Inc.
104,000 sq ft
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
112,000 sq ft(winner)
- Customer Satisfaction Score (2024 ACSI)
Home Depot Inc.
76/100(winner)
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
75/100
- Pro Membership Annual Fee
Home Depot Inc.
$9.98/year (Home Depot Pro)(winner)
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
$49/year (Lowe's Pro)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Home Depot Inc. | Lowe's Companies, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Revenue (Fiscal 2024)(USD Billions) | $152.0 billion(winner) | $86.0 billion |
| FY2025 Total Sales Revenue(USD Billions) | $86.3 | — |
| FY2026 Sales Growth Guidance(%) | 7-9% | — |
| US Store Locations(stores) | 2,314(winner) | 2,273 |
| Average Store Size(sq ft) | 104,000 | 112,000 |
| Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI 2024)(points (0-100)) | 76(winner) | 75 |
| Pro/Contractor Membership Annual Fee(USD) | $9.98(winner) | $49.00 |
| Contractor Discount Range(% off) | 5-10%(winner) | 2-5% |
| Same-Day Delivery Coverage(% of U.S. population) | 90%+(winner) | 85%+ |
| Standard Return Policy Window(days) | 90 days | 120 days(winner) |
Home Depot Inc.Lowe's Companies, Inc.Pros & Cons
10 pros·7 cons across both
Home Depot Inc.
Pros
Cons
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
Home Depot is significantly bigger. Home Depot reported $152.7 billion in revenue for fiscal 2024 with 2,300+ stores; Lowe's reported $83.7 billion with approximately 1,700 stores. Home Depot is roughly 80% larger by revenue, making it the world's largest home improvement retailer.
Home Depot is generally better for contractors. Its Pro Xtra program offers volume discounts, dedicated Pro desk service, job-site delivery, and a contractor-focused store layout. Lowe's has the competing MVP Pro Rewards program, but Home Depot's contractor services, inventory depth in structural materials, and Pro customer infrastructure are more developed.
Prices are nearly identical on commodity products. Both retailers match each other's pricing aggressively and both have price-match guarantees. The real price variation is on proprietary brands (Ryobi/Husky at Home Depot vs Craftsman/Kobalt at Lowe's) and on specialty items where one store carries inventory the other doesn't.
J.D. Power's Home Improvement Retailer Satisfaction studies have historically ranked them closely, with Lowe's slightly ahead in "in-store experience" for DIY shoppers and Home Depot slightly ahead for contractor customers. Both have improved significantly in staff availability and product knowledge. The experience varies considerably by individual store location and management.
Both retailers have reasonably flexible return policies. Home Depot allows returns within 90 days with a receipt and can look up purchases made on a Home Depot credit card or Pro Xtra account without a physical receipt. Lowe's allows 90-day returns on most items and can similarly look up purchases by credit card. Both have more restrictive policies for items like generators and major appliances.
Expert Analysis: Home Depot Inc. vs Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Home Depot and Lowe's are the two largest home improvement retailers in the United States, and choosing between them is a decision most homeowners and contractors make based on a specific combination of proximity, project type, and customer base. Understanding their real differences — rather than the marketing version — helps clarify when each excels.
The scale disparity is significant: Home Depot reported $152.7 billion in revenue for fiscal 2024, operating 2,300+ stores; Lowe's reported $83.7 billion with 1,700+ stores. Home Depot is approximately 80% larger by revenue, which translates into greater supplier leverage, broader inventory depth in professional-grade products, and a stronger Pro customer program. Home Depot's Pro Xtra loyalty program is specifically designed for contractors, tradespeople, and commercial buyers — with volume-based discounts, dedicated Pro desks, and job-site delivery infrastructure that Lowe's MVP Pro Rewards program partially but not fully matches.
In practice, Home Depot skews toward professional and commercial customers; Lowe's skews more toward DIY consumers and home remodel buyers. Walk into both stores and the difference in floor layout and product placement reflects this: Home Depot's floor plan is designed for efficiency (contractors who know what they want and need to move quickly); Lowe's floor plan tends to be more curated for browsing and home design decisions. Lowe's has invested heavily in the "customer experience" side of the store — more signage, more project idea displays, marginally more accommodating return policies for casual shoppers.
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Pricing is extremely competitive between the two. Both offer price-match guarantees, and the same commodity product (a 2×4, a bag of concrete mix, standard PVC pipe) is typically priced within a few cents of each other. The genuine price difference emerges on proprietary brands: Home Depot carries Husky tools and Ryobi; Lowe's carries Craftsman and Kobalt. Both brand ecosystems are solid mid-tier, and the choice often comes down to which brand you've already invested in.
Online capabilities have converged. Both retailers offer BOPUS (buy online, pick up in store) within hours, with Home Depot's fulfillment network generally considered slightly more reliable based on independent retailer surveys. Both offer installation services for major items (appliances, HVAC, flooring), though Home Depot's contractor network is typically larger in markets where it operates.
For specialty categories: Home Depot has historically had stronger inventory of lumber, concrete, and structural materials. Lowe's has historically had a stronger appliance selection and a slightly better track record in tile and flooring displays. Both have closed these gaps over the last decade.
The verdict: most homeowners should shop whichever is geographically closer. For contractors or large-volume buyers, Home Depot's Pro programs provide more robust infrastructure and deeper inventory. For first-time homeowners making design decisions, Lowe's store experience is slightly more welcoming.
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